Truck will not start I know it is getting gas

Tiny
COREY H JENKINS
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 253,000 MILES
I know it is getting gas so must be fire. How can I check for fire? Just one man here no help.
Monday, July 24th, 2017 AT 6:27 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,292 POSTS
The easiest way to check for sparks for just a single person is to simply get some starting fluid and spray it directly into the throttle body. Then you put the air cleaner back on and turn the key. If the engine starts for a second or so and then shuts off, you have sparks.

A better way (a little harder to do by yourself, but maybe still doable) is to get a $10.00 spark tester from the store and check each cylinder individually. Here is a link to the one that I have: https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-20610-Inline-Spark-Tester/dp/B0002STSC6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1500950215&sr=8-3&keywords=spark+tester

It has worked well for a few years now, even on my lawn mower.

The other way, more complex and almost definitely needing a helper, is the following:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system.
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,292 POSTS
The other thing to consider is that just because you have fuel getting to the rail does not mean that it has enough pressure. Nor does it mean that the injectors are pulsing. Having some experience with Chevrolet trucks, I am inclined to think that your fuel pump might be weak, but still pumping. Just like the last two that I have replaced. So if you do see that there are good sparks, the next thing to do is to get a fuel pressure tester (can be borrowed from AutoZone with a deposit) and see what you get.

Let us know what you find.
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
COREY H JENKINS
  • MEMBER
  • 80 POSTS
Just put another new fuel pump in. Thought that was problem but it was not because truck still does not start.
Will get spark tester and fuel pressure tester tomorrow.
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,536 POSTS
Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 AT 12:43 PM

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